Düsseldorf delegation inspires Tokyo: future market and innovations!

Düsseldorf delegation inspires Tokyo: future market and innovations!

On June 16, 2025, the time had finally come: the traditional Düsseldorf evening attracted around 700 guests at the “New Otani” hotel in Tokyo. Mayor Dr. Stephan Keller opened the event, which was all about networking and strengthening business contacts. In addition to him, Paul Höller, State Secretary of North Rhine-Westphalia, Wolfram Diener from Messe Düsseldorf, the German Ambassador Petra Sigmund and Minister Kiuchi were also present. The meeting was very popular and offered numerous opportunities for exchange.

A highlight of the event was the import of around 800 liters of Altbier from the traditional brewery “Zum Schlüssel”. To complete the cultural experience, there was also a crash course in barrel tapping for local service staff, which gave guests an insight into the Rhenish art of brewing. In addition, the delegation visited Toshiba Electronics Europe GmbH, which relocated from Neuss to Düsseldorf in 2021, and the newly opened Regenerative Innovation Center (RIC). This center, which opened its doors in September 2023, aims to contribute to climate neutrality through the development of Net Zero Technology and hydrogen technologies. Partners such as RWTH Aachen and the Wuppertal Institute will play an important role in the research activities.

Focus on climate neutrality and collaboration

The RIC aims to promote technologies to achieve carbon neutrality and a circular economy by acting as a technology hub in Europe. According to Toshiba Corporation, the center will cover key technical areas such as batteries and semiconductors as well as renewable energy. Toshiba is actively involved in research and development and follows the principle “Committed to the people, Committed to the future”, which emphasizes the social implementation of technological solutions. One possible area of ​​collaboration between Düsseldorf and Toshiba is in the battery division, specifically using Toshiba's SCiB technology.

Dr. Yutaka Sata, CTO of Toshiba, recently highlighted the importance of these initiatives also in the context of a comprehensive EU strategy for critical raw materials, which has become urgent given the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. This strategy aims to reduce the EU's dependence on third countries and promote recycling, which is central to the circular economy.

Technological innovation and international cooperation

Another item on the agenda for the Düsseldorf delegation was a visit to the Haneda Innovation City in Tokyo. This pioneering urban district offers an innovative framework for international cooperation and the exchange of the latest technologies. The comparison with the EUREF campus in Düsseldorf, which also focuses on climate-neutral technologies and intelligent mobility, shows the great synergies that can arise here.

Additionally, a visit to Rakuten Symphony, the subsidiary of the Rakuten Group, was on the agenda. Rakuten Symphony operates the first Open RAN-based mobile network in Japan and discussed opportunities to introduce this technology in Europe with provider 1&1. The discussions also revolved around AI-supported network automation, which could increase the efficiency and innovative power of the communications infrastructure in the future.

The business delegation will continue its journey in Japan and seek further opportunities for exchange and networking in Chiba and Osaka. This means that the focus on international cooperation to combat global challenges such as climate change and ensuring sustainable resources remains high.

There is something to be said for a sustainable future with technological progress and international cooperation - and Düsseldorf shows that they have a good hand!